The Accountability Coach: Business Acceleration|Productivity

Today we are going to talk about The Pros vs Cons Exercise – Free Download Page Have you ever had a time when you needed to make a decision but weren’t exactly sure what to do? Well, when this occurs and you aren’t sure about what decision you should make, you might want to consider the old fashion Pros and Cons list. Using this exercise will help when you are trying to decide whether to do something that can have an impact on your life, personally and professionally. Your ‘gut’ may still have a say in what you choose to do in the end. Do you have a project, decision, or issue to resolve? To download my complimentary Pros versus Cons Exercise, go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/pros-vs-cons-exercise/. This document can easily be modified to be of value to you. If you are getting value from any of The Accountability Minute messages, please take a number to leave me a short rating and review. I would really appreciate it, and love to hear from you and requests for topics you would find of value. Go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/Achieve.Your.Goals.Free.Gifts.Now/ and get 3 FREE gifts including a special report on 10 Power Tips for Getting Focused, Organized, and Achieving Your Goals Now. Join the Silver Inner Circle (IT’S FREE) and receive 10% off on all products and services in addition to having access to many assessments and complimentary resources so you can begin achieving your goals in the timeframe you want, so you can have the life you desire. Get started today by going to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/inner-circle-store/ and Join the FREE Silver Inner Circle. Aim for what you want each and every day! Anne Bachrach The Accountability Coach™ The Results Accelerator™ To help you stay focused and on track to achieving your goals, check out these other high-value resources. - Subscribe to my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/annebachrach) - Subscribe to my Blog (https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/blog/) - Anne’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TheAccountabilityCoach) - Anne’s Linked-in page https://www.linkedin.com/in/annebachrach Get your daily Accountability Minute shot of a single, simple, doable idea, so you can start your day off on the "right foot", subscribe to it based on your country. The Accountability Minute on Amazon's Alexa in the USA: https://www.amazon.com/Accountability-Minute-Anne-Bachrach/dp/B07F5H2KGB The Accountability Minute on Alexa in Canada: https://amzn.to/2MpvUmx The Accountability Minute on Alexa in Australia: https://amzn.to/2vQqI4i The Accountability Minute on Alexa in UK: https://amzn.to/2MayU9v If you don't have Alexa, Google Home (on Google Play Music), or Apple HomePod, you can subscribe to The Accountability Minute on iTunes by going to https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/accountability-minute-business-acceleration-productivity/id1406492556. Get your daily fix for starting out your day right. Business professionals and entrepreneurs who utilize my proven business-success systems make more money, work less, and enjoy better work life balance. Author of Excuses Don’t Count; Results Rule, Live Life with No Regrets, No Excuses, and the Work Life Balance Emergency Kit, The Roadmap To Success with Stephen Covey and Ken Blanchard, and more.

Today we are going to talk about The Pros vs Cons Exercise – Free Download Page Have you ever had a time when you needed to make a decision but weren’t exactly sure what to do? Well, when this occurs and you aren’t sure about what decision you should make, you might want to consider the old fashion Pros and Cons list. Using this exercise will help when you are trying to decide whether to do something that can have an impact on your life, personally and professionally. Your ‘gut’ may still have a say in what you choose to do in the end. Do you have a project, decision, or issue to resolve? To download my complimentary Pros versus Cons Exercise, go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/pros-vs-cons-exercise/. This document can easily be modified to be of value to you. If you are getting value from any of The Accountability Minute messages, please take a number to leave me a short rating and review. I would really appreciate it, and love to hear from you and requests for topics you would find of value. Go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/Achieve.Your.Goals.Free.Gifts.Now/ and get 3 FREE gifts including a special report on 10 Power Tips for Getting Focused, Organized, and Achieving Your Goals Now. Join the Silver Inner Circle (IT’S FREE) and receive 10% off on all products and services in addition to having access to many assessments and complimentary resources so you can begin achieving your goals in the timeframe you want, so you can have the life you desire. Get started today by going to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/inner-circle-store/ and Join the FREE Silver Inner Circle. Aim for what you want each and every day! Anne Bachrach The Accountability Coach™ The Results Accelerator™ To help you stay focused and on track to achieving your goals, check out these other high-value resources. - Subscribe to my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/annebachrach) - Subscribe to my Blog (https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/blog/) - Anne’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TheAccountabilityCoach) - Anne’s Linked-in page https://www.linkedin.com/in/annebachrach Get your daily Accountability Minute shot of a single, simple, doable idea, so you can start your day off on the "right foot", subscribe to it based on your country. The Accountability Minute on Amazon's Alexa in the USA: https://www.amazon.com/Accountability-Minute-Anne-Bachrach/dp/B07F5H2KGB The Accountability Minute on Alexa in Canada: https://amzn.to/2MpvUmx The Accountability Minute on Alexa in Australia: https://amzn.to/2vQqI4i The Accountability Minute on Alexa in UK: https://amzn.to/2MayU9v If you don't have Alexa, Google Home (on Google Play Music), or Apple HomePod, you can subscribe to The Accountability Minute on iTunes by going to https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/accountability-minute-business-acceleration-productivity/id1406492556. Get your daily fix for starting out your day right. Business professionals and entrepreneurs who utilize my proven business-success systems make more money, work less, and enjoy better work life balance. Author of Excuses Don’t Count; Results Rule, Live Life with No Regrets, No Excuses, and the Work Life Balance Emergency Kit, The Roadmap To Success with Stephen Covey and Ken Blanchard, and more.

Today we are going to talk about 5 Questions to Ask When You’re Not Motivated to Achieve Your Goals. Even the most motivated of achievers can sometimes feel unmotivated. So, what do you do in those crucial moments of inner negotiation - do I commit to two steps forward or relent to two steps backwards - and how do you justify your decision? What if not being motivated to achieve your goals is a sign of a deeper, unresolved issue? We are going to talk about the five questions to uncover the possible reasons you’re not motivated to achieve your goals: 1. Do I Really Want This? Before you start discounting yourself as being weak or a failure, ask yourself if you really want this. Do you really want the end result? Do you want it bad enough to do whatever it takes to achieve it? If the answer is no to either question, it’s pretty obvious why you may not be motivated to doing the work the goal requires to actually achieve it. Achieving your goals doesn’t necessarily have to be hard, but it can be challenging for any number of reasons. If you don’t have enough fire, passion, and desire to achieve a goal, the process is likely going to be a lot harder than it has to be. Tip: Stick to goals that you want bad enough that the decision to do what you need to do, in order to achieve it, is easy. 2. If I Don’t Want This, What Do I Want? If you’ve asked yourself, do I really want this? and “no” was the answer - there’s only one remaining question to ask: If I don’t want this, what do I really want? The answer may require some soul searching or big dreaming; just be sure it’s something that has enough desire to pull you through the “work” of achieving the goal. Tip: Committing to goals you don’t really want serves little purpose. Instead, craft goals you desire with your heart, guts, and soul - those goals that inspire you to do the work required. These types of goals will get you excited and motivate you to achieving them. 3. What’s My Big Why? In the middle of doing the “work” of goal achievement, it’s easy to lose sight of why you’re doing it. When you find you’re not motivated to keep going, focus on the emotional reason behind why you made the initial commitment. So ask yourself: • Who/what inspired me to make the initial commitment to this goal? • Is my reasoning behind the commitment (my big why) still a high priority - a high enough priority to continue my commitment to doing whatever it takes – and nothing less? If the answer is yes, connect to your big why. It’s as easy as reminding yourself of the emotion that prompted your initial commitment - the why behind your decision. Connecting to the why allows you to feel emotions and renew your commitment to the goal. If the answer is no, they your why isn’t a big enough why - or it may be time to revise your goals, so you can find a big why. 4. What are the Consequences of Not Doing the Work? The goal of this question is to get you thinking about the consequences of not doing the work. There is only ever one reason behind every choice you make: it’s that you believe your choice will bring about greater comfort or happiness and/or reduction of pain or discomfort. Let’s take weight loss as an example. On one hand, you commit to losing 25 lbs because you want to live a long, healthy life, well into your elderly years (goal driven by increasing pleasure and overall good feeling). On the other hand, you commit to losing 25 lbs. because you don’t like the way you look in a bathing suit (goal driven by reducing pain). So, the question is: • Are the consequences of not doing the work undesirable enough to motivate you to do the work needed - right here, right now? If the pleasure of achieving a future goal is not enough to motivate you, then turn the tables. Instead of trying to motivate yourself by pleasure, think about the pain. Is the pain enough to motivate you to do the work? Tip: Pleasure is a more sustainable motivator and is initially the best way to inspire you,

Today we are going to talk about 5 Questions to Ask When You’re Not Motivated to Achieve Your Goals. Even the most motivated of achievers can sometimes feel unmotivated. So, what do you do in those crucial moments of inner negotiation - do I commit to two steps forward or relent to two steps backwards - and how do you justify your decision? What if not being motivated to achieve your goals is a sign of a deeper, unresolved issue? We are going to talk about the five questions to uncover the possible reasons you’re not motivated to achieve your goals: 1. Do I Really Want This? Before you start discounting yourself as being weak or a failure, ask yourself if you really want this. Do you really want the end result? Do you want it bad enough to do whatever it takes to achieve it? If the answer is no to either question, it’s pretty obvious why you may not be motivated to doing the work the goal requires to actually achieve it. Achieving your goals doesn’t necessarily have to be hard, but it can be challenging for any number of reasons. If you don’t have enough fire, passion, and desire to achieve a goal, the process is likely going to be a lot harder than it has to be. Tip: Stick to goals that you want bad enough that the decision to do what you need to do, in order to achieve it, is easy. 2. If I Don’t Want This, What Do I Want? If you’ve asked yourself, do I really want this? and “no” was the answer - there’s only one remaining question to ask: If I don’t want this, what do I really want? The answer may require some soul searching or big dreaming; just be sure it’s something that has enough desire to pull you through the “work” of achieving the goal. Tip: Committing to goals you don’t really want serves little purpose. Instead, craft goals you desire with your heart, guts, and soul - those goals that inspire you to do the work required. These types of goals will get you excited and motivate you to achieving them. 3. What’s My Big Why? In the middle of doing the “work” of goal achievement, it’s easy to lose sight of why you’re doing it. When you find you’re not motivated to keep going, focus on the emotional reason behind why you made the initial commitment. So ask yourself: • Who/what inspired me to make the initial commitment to this goal? • Is my reasoning behind the commitment (my big why) still a high priority - a high enough priority to continue my commitment to doing whatever it takes – and nothing less? If the answer is yes, connect to your big why. It’s as easy as reminding yourself of the emotion that prompted your initial commitment - the why behind your decision. Connecting to the why allows you to feel emotions and renew your commitment to the goal. If the answer is no, they your why isn’t a big enough why - or it may be time to revise your goals, so you can find a big why. 4. What are the Consequences of Not Doing the Work? The goal of this question is to get you thinking about the consequences of not doing the work. There is only ever one reason behind every choice you make: it’s that you believe your choice will bring about greater comfort or happiness and/or reduction of pain or discomfort. Let’s take weight loss as an example. On one hand, you commit to losing 25 lbs because you want to live a long, healthy life, well into your elderly years (goal driven by increasing pleasure and overall good feeling). On the other hand, you commit to losing 25 lbs. because you don’t like the way you look in a bathing suit (goal driven by reducing pain). So, the question is: • Are the consequences of not doing the work undesirable enough to motivate you to do the work needed - right here, right now? If the pleasure of achieving a future goal is not enough to motivate you, then turn the tables. Instead of trying to motivate yourself by pleasure, think about the pain. Is the pain enough to motivate you to do the work? Tip: Pleasure is a more sustainable motivator and is initially the best way to inspire you,

We’ve all been there before…we find a goal that inspires us, and we commit to doing the work…until life derails us. Whether it was that vacation, your assistant suddenly quits, or death in the family, the truth is life sometimes distracts us from our goals. Dealing with the disruption is one thing, getting back on track can be another. Here we go with the 4 tips for sticking to your goals and getting back on track. Tip #1: Focus on the Reward - Not the Work Wise sages advise us to “be in the moment,” but let’s face it - you don’t always feel like running that last mile. You’re human; sometimes you lose your motivation in the middle of having to “do the work.” If you’re losing your motivation, switch your focus on the reward. Focus on the good feelings of having accomplished your goal and how much easier it will be the next time because you will have broken through another limiting belief. “We only learn our limits by going beyond them.” ~Unknown Tip #2: The Have-To’s Sometimes Turn into the Want-To’s The work involved with achieving goals can feel like a “have-to” in the beginning, but they often turn into a “want-to” by the end of the process. They become a positive habit - a healthy way of being - while the work part eventually melts away. This happens because it’s not always about the end result - it’s about the person you become as a result of the process. When you learn a new way of living - a way of living that better represents and supports your true potential - things that used to be a “have-to” transform into a “want-to.” “Conquer your bad habits or they will conquer you.” ~Charles A. Jaffe Tip #3: It’s Who You Become in the Process The person you woke up as today may not be the same person you wake up as tomorrow - or the day after that - or next week - or ten years from now. While it’s impossible to predict exactly who you’ll be in the future, it’s a safe bet that you will not be the exact same person. Life is a process of constant change and transformation. Each day we learn more about ourselves, which results in greater clarity of our true desires. The path between where we are and where we want to be becomes more clear and focused, creating a deep and focused desire to see the process through. Setting goals - and the work involved with achieving them - is not so much about the end result, as much as a deep, and often indefinable, desire to fulfill our greatest potential. To grow - to expand - to become all that we can be. The person you end up becoming by the end of a journey (the process of goal setting and achieving is most definitely a journey!) is not the same person who started the journey. Achieving goals teaches you that you had what it took to achieve something you maybe weren’t sure you could, in the beginning. The process teaches you that you had more than you thought: more guts, more stamina, more determination, more commitment, more skill. The process shifts your perceptions, increases your self-esteem, confidence, and uplevels your mindset - all of which changes how you feel about the ‘work.’ “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." ~Zig Ziglar Tip #4: Do You Want To Start Over Again? When you realize that each decision could carry a consequence, you can begin to make better decisions. If you spend energy and time doing the work, it doesn’t take too much “undoing” or “starting again” before you discover you do not want to do something twice or three times if you only have to do it once. We see this time and time again in people who unconsciously (sometimes consciously) sabotage their hard work. They take two steps forward - then three steps back. They go to the gym only to go home and over-indulge in a bowl of ice cream. They run five miles each day for two weeks only to spend the next six months being sedentary. They quit smoking for one week only to avoid kicking the habit for another year. When you realize th

We’ve all been there before…we find a goal that inspires us, and we commit to doing the work…until life derails us. Whether it was that vacation, your assistant suddenly quits, or death in the family, the truth is life sometimes distracts us from our goals. Dealing with the disruption is one thing, getting back on track can be another. Here we go with the 4 tips for sticking to your goals and getting back on track. Tip #1: Focus on the Reward - Not the Work Wise sages advise us to “be in the moment,” but let’s face it - you don’t always feel like running that last mile. You’re human; sometimes you lose your motivation in the middle of having to “do the work.” If you’re losing your motivation, switch your focus on the reward. Focus on the good feelings of having accomplished your goal and how much easier it will be the next time because you will have broken through another limiting belief. “We only learn our limits by going beyond them.” ~Unknown Tip #2: The Have-To’s Sometimes Turn into the Want-To’s The work involved with achieving goals can feel like a “have-to” in the beginning, but they often turn into a “want-to” by the end of the process. They become a positive habit - a healthy way of being - while the work part eventually melts away. This happens because it’s not always about the end result - it’s about the person you become as a result of the process. When you learn a new way of living - a way of living that better represents and supports your true potential - things that used to be a “have-to” transform into a “want-to.” “Conquer your bad habits or they will conquer you.” ~Charles A. Jaffe Tip #3: It’s Who You Become in the Process The person you woke up as today may not be the same person you wake up as tomorrow - or the day after that - or next week - or ten years from now. While it’s impossible to predict exactly who you’ll be in the future, it’s a safe bet that you will not be the exact same person. Life is a process of constant change and transformation. Each day we learn more about ourselves, which results in greater clarity of our true desires. The path between where we are and where we want to be becomes more clear and focused, creating a deep and focused desire to see the process through. Setting goals - and the work involved with achieving them - is not so much about the end result, as much as a deep, and often indefinable, desire to fulfill our greatest potential. To grow - to expand - to become all that we can be. The person you end up becoming by the end of a journey (the process of goal setting and achieving is most definitely a journey!) is not the same person who started the journey. Achieving goals teaches you that you had what it took to achieve something you maybe weren’t sure you could, in the beginning. The process teaches you that you had more than you thought: more guts, more stamina, more determination, more commitment, more skill. The process shifts your perceptions, increases your self-esteem, confidence, and uplevels your mindset - all of which changes how you feel about the ‘work.’ “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." ~Zig Ziglar Tip #4: Do You Want To Start Over Again? When you realize that each decision could carry a consequence, you can begin to make better decisions. If you spend energy and time doing the work, it doesn’t take too much “undoing” or “starting again” before you discover you do not want to do something twice or three times if you only have to do it once. We see this time and time again in people who unconsciously (sometimes consciously) sabotage their hard work. They take two steps forward - then three steps back. They go to the gym only to go home and over-indulge in a bowl of ice cream. They run five miles each day for two weeks only to spend the next six months being sedentary. They quit smoking for one week only to avoid kicking the habit for another year. When you realize th

Maintaining balance when the demands of work and life are pulling you in different directions can be a bit challenging at times. What’s at the heart of finding balance in your life? Peace, happiness, rest, health? The definition of balance is different for everyone: What may be balance to me may not be balance to you; which is why it’s important to get to the heart of what’s uniquely important in your life. Let’s talk about 14 tips for maintaining work/life balance. 1. Identify Your Core Values (what is truly important to you in life) Above all, honoring your core values is vital to maintaining a sense of balance because it directly affects your quality of life. Identify your core values and make the necessary life/work changes that honor them, so you can enjoy the kind of life you truly want and deserve. To help you identify your core values, you will find an effective exercise in the No Excuses Program (located in the Store at https://www.AccountabilityCoach.com). 2. Know Your Priorities – and Schedule Them If it’s really important, it must be scheduled. As I often say, honor thy calendar. Work and family are not the only important priorities, so be sure to schedule “you” time where you can to refuel, rejuvenate and tend to your own health and well-being. I believe that in order to stay focused on your high payoff activities and achieve your goals you must schedule everything on your calendar. 3. Establish a Home Office If you struggle with traveling to and from an office away from home, save time and get even more done by establishing a home office. Word of caution: it can be easy to get distracted by personal matters and family members when working from home, so set clear “office hours” where you can focus on work and will not be disturbed. Certainly, working virtually is much more common today than it used to be. 4. Work Remotely 1-2 Days per Week If you work best outdoors or in your favorite peaceful environment, schedule “remote” days where you can head to your favorite destination to brainstorm new business ideas or boost production. 5. Reduce Your Expenses It’s easy to get caught up in all the “doing” of life, only to lose track of how much you have to do to keep up with all the “having.” Look around you and ask, “Do I really want or need that _________?” If it’s a financial burden, and provides little or no fulfillment or return, it’s time to dump or downsize. When you don’t have to keep up with all the “having,” you can reduce the “doing” time and be even more profitable. 6. Raise Your Prices As an entrepreneur, raising your prices is one of the easiest and fastest ways to find more life/work balance. It’s pretty simple; when you’re generating more revenue, you have more of an opportunity to work less. Always make sure the value you provide exceeds the price you are charging (perceived value can be different for different people). Increasing value doesn’t mean adding more work time. There are many ways to increase value without adding your time to the equation. 7. Request a Salary Increase As a small business owner, you can always give yourself a raise, assuming there is enough profit in the business. Do the math and make sure the numbers work and give yourself that well-deserved salary increase. 8. Outsource Domestic Chores If domestic chores aren’t your cup of tea – consider delegating them. Unless household chores bring you a sense of pleasure or satisfaction, there is simply no reason to spend your valuable time tending to them. Remember, the name of the game is finding life and work balance. Hiring domestic help is an easy solution to finding more balance. Typically this is a good investment in your life. 9. Hire Personal or Professional Support Success requires assertiveness, and as a successful professional you’re likely to be effective at getting things done. But are you trying to do it all? Are you still doing too much of the low payoff activities yourself? Hiring a personal or professi

Maintaining balance when the demands of work and life are pulling you in different directions can be a bit challenging at times. What’s at the heart of finding balance in your life? Peace, happiness, rest, health? The definition of balance is different for everyone: What may be balance to me may not be balance to you; which is why it’s important to get to the heart of what’s uniquely important in your life. Let’s talk about 14 tips for maintaining work/life balance. 1. Identify Your Core Values (what is truly important to you in life) Above all, honoring your core values is vital to maintaining a sense of balance because it directly affects your quality of life. Identify your core values and make the necessary life/work changes that honor them, so you can enjoy the kind of life you truly want and deserve. To help you identify your core values, you will find an effective exercise in the No Excuses Program (located in the Store at https://www.AccountabilityCoach.com). 2. Know Your Priorities – and Schedule Them If it’s really important, it must be scheduled. As I often say, honor thy calendar. Work and family are not the only important priorities, so be sure to schedule “you” time where you can to refuel, rejuvenate and tend to your own health and well-being. I believe that in order to stay focused on your high payoff activities and achieve your goals you must schedule everything on your calendar. 3. Establish a Home Office If you struggle with traveling to and from an office away from home, save time and get even more done by establishing a home office. Word of caution: it can be easy to get distracted by personal matters and family members when working from home, so set clear “office hours” where you can focus on work and will not be disturbed. Certainly, working virtually is much more common today than it used to be. 4. Work Remotely 1-2 Days per Week If you work best outdoors or in your favorite peaceful environment, schedule “remote” days where you can head to your favorite destination to brainstorm new business ideas or boost production. 5. Reduce Your Expenses It’s easy to get caught up in all the “doing” of life, only to lose track of how much you have to do to keep up with all the “having.” Look around you and ask, “Do I really want or need that _________?” If it’s a financial burden, and provides little or no fulfillment or return, it’s time to dump or downsize. When you don’t have to keep up with all the “having,” you can reduce the “doing” time and be even more profitable. 6. Raise Your Prices As an entrepreneur, raising your prices is one of the easiest and fastest ways to find more life/work balance. It’s pretty simple; when you’re generating more revenue, you have more of an opportunity to work less. Always make sure the value you provide exceeds the price you are charging (perceived value can be different for different people). Increasing value doesn’t mean adding more work time. There are many ways to increase value without adding your time to the equation. 7. Request a Salary Increase As a small business owner, you can always give yourself a raise, assuming there is enough profit in the business. Do the math and make sure the numbers work and give yourself that well-deserved salary increase. 8. Outsource Domestic Chores If domestic chores aren’t your cup of tea – consider delegating them. Unless household chores bring you a sense of pleasure or satisfaction, there is simply no reason to spend your valuable time tending to them. Remember, the name of the game is finding life and work balance. Hiring domestic help is an easy solution to finding more balance. Typically this is a good investment in your life. 9. Hire Personal or Professional Support Success requires assertiveness, and as a successful professional you’re likely to be effective at getting things done. But are you trying to do it all? Are you still doing too much of the low payoff activities yourself? Hiring a personal or professi

The time to implement a strategy is now! The Leaders role in strategy making: We all have a voice in strategy-making, as well as greater latitude to respond opportunistically to developing conditions. In the past, strategic thinking was generally reserved to closed-door meetings with upper management. This method employs feedback with lower-level management, who has direct contact with employees and clients. Strategy making: Sees strategy and change as inescapably linked and assumes that finding new strategic options and implementing them successfully is harder and more important than evaluating them. This rule puts ideas into action and places the importance of the application rather than extensive and time-consuming evaluation before action. Change is happening all the time, so the time to implement the strategy is now – not later – so you can capitalize on the benefits. Applying Strategic Thinking practices to your business will accelerate your success by allowing a crystal clear focus to drive daily tasks - for you and your team. To download a complimentary copy of a strategic thinking model, go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/strategic-thinking-model/. This document can easily be modified to be of value to you and everyone on your team. If you do get value from these Podcasts, please take a minute to leave me a short review. It is very much appreciated. To obtain high-content business success webinars, go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/free-articles/free-webinars/ and hover over the Free Articles tab at the top of the page and you can see FREE WEBINARS. Review the options and pick the ones that will best help you be even more successful and download and implement those concepts. Remember to Join the Silver Inner Circle if you haven’t done so yet. IT’S FREE! You will receive 10% off on all products and services in addition to having access to many assessments and complimentary resources so you can begin achieving your goals in the timeframe you want, so you can have the life you desire. Get started today by going to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/inner-circle-store/ and Join the FREE Silver Inner Circle. Aim for what you want each and every day! Anne Bachrach The Accountability Coach™ The Results Accelerator™ To help you stay focused and on track to achieving your goals, check out these other high-value resources. - Subscribe to my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/annebachrach) - Subscribe to my Blog (https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/blog/) or Subscribe to my blog on Kindle and receive business success tips https://www.amazon.com/The-Accountability-Coach/dp/B003JBHR4Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1315931264&sr=1-1 - Anne’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TheAccountabilityCoach) - Anne’s Linked-in page https://www.linkedin.com/in/annebachrach Business professionals and entrepreneurs who utilize Anne Bachrach’s proven business-success systems make more money, work less, and enjoy better work life balance. Author of Excuses Don’t Count; Results Rule, Live Life with No Regrets, No Excuses, and the Work Life Balance Emergency Kit. Get your audio copy today.

The time to implement a strategy is now! The Leaders role in strategy making: We all have a voice in strategy-making, as well as greater latitude to respond opportunistically to developing conditions. In the past, strategic thinking was generally reserved to closed-door meetings with upper management. This method employs feedback with lower-level management, who has direct contact with employees and clients. Strategy making: Sees strategy and change as inescapably linked and assumes that finding new strategic options and implementing them successfully is harder and more important than evaluating them. This rule puts ideas into action and places the importance of the application rather than extensive and time-consuming evaluation before action. Change is happening all the time, so the time to implement the strategy is now – not later – so you can capitalize on the benefits. Applying Strategic Thinking practices to your business will accelerate your success by allowing a crystal clear focus to drive daily tasks - for you and your team. To download a complimentary copy of a strategic thinking model, go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/strategic-thinking-model/. This document can easily be modified to be of value to you and everyone on your team. If you do get value from these Podcasts, please take a minute to leave me a short review. It is very much appreciated. To obtain high-content business success webinars, go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/free-articles/free-webinars/ and hover over the Free Articles tab at the top of the page and you can see FREE WEBINARS. Review the options and pick the ones that will best help you be even more successful and download and implement those concepts. Remember to Join the Silver Inner Circle if you haven’t done so yet. IT’S FREE! You will receive 10% off on all products and services in addition to having access to many assessments and complimentary resources so you can begin achieving your goals in the timeframe you want, so you can have the life you desire. Get started today by going to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/inner-circle-store/ and Join the FREE Silver Inner Circle. Aim for what you want each and every day! Anne Bachrach The Accountability Coach™ The Results Accelerator™ To help you stay focused and on track to achieving your goals, check out these other high-value resources. - Subscribe to my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/annebachrach) - Subscribe to my Blog (https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/blog/) or Subscribe to my blog on Kindle and receive business success tips https://www.amazon.com/The-Accountability-Coach/dp/B003JBHR4Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1315931264&sr=1-1 - Anne’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TheAccountabilityCoach) - Anne’s Linked-in page https://www.linkedin.com/in/annebachrach Business professionals and entrepreneurs who utilize Anne Bachrach’s proven business-success systems make more money, work less, and enjoy better work life balance. Author of Excuses Don’t Count; Results Rule, Live Life with No Regrets, No Excuses, and the Work Life Balance Emergency Kit. Get your audio copy today.

The success of a business depends hugely on the employees. If they aren’t committed to the goals and don’t put in their best efforts, achieving success can be extremely difficult and maybe impossible. Even if you have achieved considerable success till now, sustaining it in the future and taking your business to the next level is a whole different ballgame. You need to be able to manage the people working for you in the best way possible to make sure they are working towards your business’ success. You need to make sure each and every employee is motivated and working towards the end goal. This requires you to share your vision for the company with them. It is easier said than done though. There are many things you need to do to improve your management skills and manage your employees in a better way. Let’s explore 8 tips that can help you manage people better. 1. Define Values Every business, regardless of scale, needs to have a set of clearly defined values. The values for your business are basically a code your employees follow when performing their day-to-day functions. Not outlining the values of your business causes confusion. The employees are not clear about what to do when faced with any given situation. Defining values also makes your expectations of the employees known to them. That way, they can perform to the standards you expect of them. For instance, the punishment for failure to complete work or violating a business policy should be made clear so that the employees don’t step out of line. 2. Build Teams Some entrepreneurs use the strategy of pitting employees against each other and creating a competitive atmosphere. The idea behind it is clear that employees get motivated to work hard and outperform their peers. However, for a company, it is better that the people learn to work together than on their own. You can think of your business as a well-oiled machine. All the cogs need to be working perfectly and more importantly, working in tandem to make the machine work. 3. Foster Accountability Accountability is a crucial ingredient in a work environment. You need to foster accountability and hold your employees responsible for their work. This results in them taking on more responsibility and makes your job of managing them easier. As you know, added responsibility can be a source of motivation for the employees. They begin feeling that you are relying on them to play a major role in the success of your business. To create the right environment for accountability, you need to outline your expectations clearly. Then, if the employee doesn’t fulfill your expectations, you can reprimand them. All good business owners do allow a grace period for the employee to rectify the situation but don’t make it too extensive or it can cause other employees to not take you seriously. Take the necessary action at the appropriate time. However, don’t try to make an example of the employee just for the sake of intimidating others. 4. Rewards & Punishments The best tools you have in your arsenal for managing people are rewards and punishments. The fear of punishment and the aspiration of a reward are the foremost sources of motivation for most people. You need to use them according to the situation. Make sure there is a balance between rewards and punishments. None of your employees should feel unfairly treated. Using rewards and punishments perfectly can help in managing people better. Punishments are often linked to low productivity and employee morale but can eventually get the work done. Rewards and punishments both can be categorized under tangible and intangible. For instance, simply pestering an employee until they complete their work is an example of intangible punishment. On the other hand, if you issue a written notice or cut the salary of the employee, it becomes a tangible punishment. Same goes as far as rewards are concerned. A pat on the back or a word of encouragement is an intang

The success of a business depends hugely on the employees. If they aren’t committed to the goals and don’t put in their best efforts, achieving success can be extremely difficult and maybe impossible. Even if you have achieved considerable success till now, sustaining it in the future and taking your business to the next level is a whole different ballgame. You need to be able to manage the people working for you in the best way possible to make sure they are working towards your business’ success. You need to make sure each and every employee is motivated and working towards the end goal. This requires you to share your vision for the company with them. It is easier said than done though. There are many things you need to do to improve your management skills and manage your employees in a better way. Let’s explore 8 tips that can help you manage people better. 1. Define Values Every business, regardless of scale, needs to have a set of clearly defined values. The values for your business are basically a code your employees follow when performing their day-to-day functions. Not outlining the values of your business causes confusion. The employees are not clear about what to do when faced with any given situation. Defining values also makes your expectations of the employees known to them. That way, they can perform to the standards you expect of them. For instance, the punishment for failure to complete work or violating a business policy should be made clear so that the employees don’t step out of line. 2. Build Teams Some entrepreneurs use the strategy of pitting employees against each other and creating a competitive atmosphere. The idea behind it is clear that employees get motivated to work hard and outperform their peers. However, for a company, it is better that the people learn to work together than on their own. You can think of your business as a well-oiled machine. All the cogs need to be working perfectly and more importantly, working in tandem to make the machine work. 3. Foster Accountability Accountability is a crucial ingredient in a work environment. You need to foster accountability and hold your employees responsible for their work. This results in them taking on more responsibility and makes your job of managing them easier. As you know, added responsibility can be a source of motivation for the employees. They begin feeling that you are relying on them to play a major role in the success of your business. To create the right environment for accountability, you need to outline your expectations clearly. Then, if the employee doesn’t fulfill your expectations, you can reprimand them. All good business owners do allow a grace period for the employee to rectify the situation but don’t make it too extensive or it can cause other employees to not take you seriously. Take the necessary action at the appropriate time. However, don’t try to make an example of the employee just for the sake of intimidating others. 4. Rewards & Punishments The best tools you have in your arsenal for managing people are rewards and punishments. The fear of punishment and the aspiration of a reward are the foremost sources of motivation for most people. You need to use them according to the situation. Make sure there is a balance between rewards and punishments. None of your employees should feel unfairly treated. Using rewards and punishments perfectly can help in managing people better. Punishments are often linked to low productivity and employee morale but can eventually get the work done. Rewards and punishments both can be categorized under tangible and intangible. For instance, simply pestering an employee until they complete their work is an example of intangible punishment. On the other hand, if you issue a written notice or cut the salary of the employee, it becomes a tangible punishment. Same goes as far as rewards are concerned. A pat on the back or a word of encouragement is an intang

Getting your offline business online can be overwhelming and confusing. You find yourself asking questions such as: Do I really need to be on Facebook? What’s the craze over Twitter and how does it help my business? Do I really need a blog and how do I find the time to write blog posts when I’m trying to run my business? These questions, along with many more, are common and important questions to ask when taking your offline business online. This episode is meant to help answer some of your questions and provide guidance for navigating the world of online marketing. Tip 1: The Internet is a Community Realize that the internet is a community and this concept will help you grasp the most important piece of mastering online marketing. You are not here to sell. You are a part of a worldwide community who has valuable solutions to offer your ideal client and prospect community. Tip 2: Keep it Real Internet users can smell “fake” a mile away. Sleazy sales tactics don’t work and no, people don’t care what you had for lunch. What people do want is valuable information and resources! Post free tips - provide links to additional resources like key tips and articles on your blog, podcasts, and videos - announce special promotions. Keep it real, keep it high-value. Tip 3: Social Networking No-No’s If you’re new to social networking, it’s very easy to make a mistake and lose the trust of your tribe forever. In the beginning, do more listening than talking. Think of yourself as the new kid on the block.... learn the ropes, observe, and take notes. Connect with people from various industries and pay close attention to those people who have huge followings (they’re probably doing something right). Model their successes, and steer clear of the social networking no-no’s. Tip 4: Your Website Isn’t Just a Website Just a few short years ago, websites were horrible to look at: flashing banners, hot pink backgrounds, hard-to-read text, and bad headshots. Today, your website isn’t just a website - it’s a presence. It’s your brand. It’s your business. It’s YOU. It must be engaging, informative and offer massive value without cheesy sales tactics. Tip 5: Consistency is Key Because the internet is a community, you must be willing to consistently participate. Tweeting once per month isn’t going to get you noticed. Online marketing should be part of your everyday marketing plan. A few minutes per day (at least 4 days per week) is the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to connect with over 1 billion people - some of whom I’m sure are your ideal prospects. Your assistant can help by taking existing information and consistently put it out there for you. Tip 6: Expand Your Market While you may not be interested in becoming the next Mari Smith, there are plenty of people, worldwide, who recognize the power of the internet to expand their market and grow their business. Why would you not access a resource that provides you with free or low-cost ways to reach more of your ideal prospects? Leverage the resources available to you! Tip 7: Get the Inside Scoop on What People Really Want The internet provides a perfect way for you to find out exactly what your market wants. It’s as simple as joining LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter - and then listening to what people are saying. What frustrates them? What products or programs are they raving about? Who are they following - and interacting with? You’ll find that people are generally brutally honest about their experiences - and that helps you help them. Tip 8: Find an Untapped Resource of Allies, Partners, and Clients You’ll quickly find that there is an endless supply of people who are willing to spread the word about high-quality products and services to their friends and family. If you have a great product or service, you’ll probably find people who are willing to sing your praises. You’ll also likely find unexpected joint-venture partners, affiliates and clients! Tip 9:

Getting your offline business online can be overwhelming and confusing. You find yourself asking questions such as: Do I really need to be on Facebook? What’s the craze over Twitter and how does it help my business? Do I really need a blog and how do I find the time to write blog posts when I’m trying to run my business? These questions, along with many more, are common and important questions to ask when taking your offline business online. This episode is meant to help answer some of your questions and provide guidance for navigating the world of online marketing. Tip 1: The Internet is a Community Realize that the internet is a community and this concept will help you grasp the most important piece of mastering online marketing. You are not here to sell. You are a part of a worldwide community who has valuable solutions to offer your ideal client and prospect community. Tip 2: Keep it Real Internet users can smell “fake” a mile away. Sleazy sales tactics don’t work and no, people don’t care what you had for lunch. What people do want is valuable information and resources! Post free tips - provide links to additional resources like key tips and articles on your blog, podcasts, and videos - announce special promotions. Keep it real, keep it high-value. Tip 3: Social Networking No-No’s If you’re new to social networking, it’s very easy to make a mistake and lose the trust of your tribe forever. In the beginning, do more listening than talking. Think of yourself as the new kid on the block.... learn the ropes, observe, and take notes. Connect with people from various industries and pay close attention to those people who have huge followings (they’re probably doing something right). Model their successes, and steer clear of the social networking no-no’s. Tip 4: Your Website Isn’t Just a Website Just a few short years ago, websites were horrible to look at: flashing banners, hot pink backgrounds, hard-to-read text, and bad headshots. Today, your website isn’t just a website - it’s a presence. It’s your brand. It’s your business. It’s YOU. It must be engaging, informative and offer massive value without cheesy sales tactics. Tip 5: Consistency is Key Because the internet is a community, you must be willing to consistently participate. Tweeting once per month isn’t going to get you noticed. Online marketing should be part of your everyday marketing plan. A few minutes per day (at least 4 days per week) is the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to connect with over 1 billion people - some of whom I’m sure are your ideal prospects. Your assistant can help by taking existing information and consistently put it out there for you. Tip 6: Expand Your Market While you may not be interested in becoming the next Mari Smith, there are plenty of people, worldwide, who recognize the power of the internet to expand their market and grow their business. Why would you not access a resource that provides you with free or low-cost ways to reach more of your ideal prospects? Leverage the resources available to you! Tip 7: Get the Inside Scoop on What People Really Want The internet provides a perfect way for you to find out exactly what your market wants. It’s as simple as joining LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter - and then listening to what people are saying. What frustrates them? What products or programs are they raving about? Who are they following - and interacting with? You’ll find that people are generally brutally honest about their experiences - and that helps you help them. Tip 8: Find an Untapped Resource of Allies, Partners, and Clients You’ll quickly find that there is an endless supply of people who are willing to spread the word about high-quality products and services to their friends and family. If you have a great product or service, you’ll probably find people who are willing to sing your praises. You’ll also likely find unexpected joint-venture partners, affiliates and clients! Tip 9:

The important thing to remember when handling demanding clients is to take sole responsibility for establishing and managing their expectations. Manage them effectively - and everyone will remain on the same page and walk away satisfied. Fail to manage them effectively - and you’ll end up with some level of conflict (however minor or severe). Clients will follow your lead; they will be however demanding or easy-going as your client boundaries dictates, and it’s best to establish those boundaries before the contract is signed. 1. Establish Rules from the Get-Go Establishing rules from the get-go is ideal and will help ensure a positive client relationship. Ideally, all projects should be secured with a firm contract (that protects and supports you and your client) before any money is exchanged or any work commences. This not only ensures everyone is on the same page from the very beginning of a new relationship, it helps reduce the chances of possible conflict at any time during the project. If you’ve been doing business without any client boundaries in place, it’s best if you do not take on any additional clients until you establish a basic contract or service agreement. If you’ve never used contracts, approach it from this angle: • What are you clear on delivering and not delivering? • What problems or issues have you run into in the past? • How could you design your contract or service agreement to avoid those problems and issues in the future? • What are the expectations they can expect from you and you from them? You may also want to consider what you would like to do and how you would like to direct the outcome of future projects before you design the program. For example, if you design a program that makes you miserable, it’s going to be near impossible to create a positive experience for your clients. On the other hand, if you could design the program - and direct the outcome should problems arise - how would you like to do that and how would it best be done? (Be clear on what you’re willing and not willing to do.) If you’re just starting out in business or you’re new to a specific industry, it can be difficult to establish rules when you’re not always sure what exactly will be required. That’s okay. In the beginning, you’ll have to feel your way through, client by client, until you gain complete clarity. The best advice would be: don’t do anything in the beginning that you are not willing to continue throughout your client relationship and/or for future clients - although sometimes that may be hard to know in the beginning. The internet has many resources that can be found to help you in many situations. Communication is very important to any successful relationship. Tell the truth, succinctly and directly, and in a way that is all about them. As an example, if you’re not willing to work late hours or weekends, set your availability strictly to normal business hours, Monday through Friday (or Tuesday through Thursday). If you prefer clients do not have access to your cell phone, set up a business line with a virtual receptionist or automated voice mail that you check 2 to 3 times per day. 2. What to Do When You Change the Rules Mid-Game If you need to change the rules mid-game, be flexible. Remember that expectations were set in motion from the onset and changing them could lead to conflict. If you must change the rules mid-game, get clear on: 1) What the client wants and expects 2) Specifics of the agreement that must be adjusted 3) Specifics of the agreement where you are flexible 4) Specific ways you will meet/exceed client expectations, even with contract adjustments. Clarify these terms as clearly as possible before you arrange a phone conversation with the client. If you are unclear about any terms, clarify them before discussing “changing the rules.” Remember, the biggest trigger to conflict is not properly managing and meeting client expectations. If you know what